Diesel’s Second Coming
EARLY last year, this column predicted that a new generation of lean and clean diesel cars would soon be heading for American shores (“Rudolf’s revenge”, February 9th, 2007). On cue, Mercedes-Benz, BMW and Volkswagen have started to introduce American versions of their latest diesel models that are clean enough to be sold even in environmentally conscious California. Japanese and American carmakers aren’t far behind.
Diesels are seen as an answer to soaring oil prices. While ludicrously low by European and Japanese standards, pump prices across America have risen by a breathtaking 60% over the past year. The average price for regular gasoline is now $3.30 a gallon; in California, it’s over $3.70 a gallon.
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